Weather-Talk With Sassy-Six

B:  Are you happy on a rainy day?
Me:  Sure, I can find many things to do.
B:  Are you happy on a sunny day?
Me:  Of course!
B:  Are you happy on a thundering day?  You can't watch TV because the thunder is LOUD!
Me:  Yes, there's a lot to do!
B:  Are you happy when it's thundering and lightening?
Me:  Yeah!  So, what are we getting at, here?

B:  Here's the worst part of all.  When it snows, when it rains, when it lightening's and thunders, all mixed together...(long pause).
Me: Yeah?
B: Okay, that's weird.
Me: What's weird?
B:  That you said you like those days all mixed together!

Hmmm...

Do you like it when it thunders on tuesdays, wednesdays, thursdays and fridays?

Hmmm...

Do you YES or NO?
Asher:  No sassies to my Mom.

Hmmm...

Me:  No, I don't like it if it thunders all those days.
B:  Do you like it if it's raining every day?
Me:  No.
B:  Do you like it if it's cloudy with gray clouds?  Do you Mom?  Do yoooooou?
Me: um, no.  Am I done?
B: Do you like it when it's partly cloudy and partly sunny?

The End.  I need a tylenol.

yes, i did start typing mid-convo.  some things just need to be recorded...and blogged.

Right Now

Today has been a slow morning, just the way a weekend should begin.  I laid in bed as long as my youngest and the pup would let me.  After three weeks of school for the children, and hustling like mad to and from the city, I'm happy to have woke on my own accord--sort of.  There was plenty of "Moooom, get up!" and puppy whines.  Husband is spending his early morning on the green.  He'd take golf (or an early morning hunt) over extra zzz's anytime.  I'm happy to say that his morning-person-ness has rubbed off on me over the years, and I, too, usually love an early rise.  Take me back to college, and I slept like I was in a coma.  Making progress, people.

Fall has moved in and the weather has been stuck somewhere between blue skies and rain.  We've been able to keep the rain at bay, but it's surely headed our way--and I'm prepared.  Warm cup, slipper socks, sweats, the makings of zucchini bread on the counter, blackberry jam to fix (grrr) and a pumpkin spice candle to light--a few books on the couch.  I came across this scene that has me wanting to cook Lebanese pizza for dinner.

I've got my Uncle on my mind this morning, as he's in the midst of an urgent and serious surgery.  Praying God's precision will flow through to the hands that work on him.  Praying for his family that waits on him and the outcome of their father, husband, Grandpa, son.  Life unfolds as we blink.  And we hang tight.

What's does right now look like for you?

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Mountainscapes and The Pacific Crest Trail

Family adventures are the best kind.  Last weekend, we headed up the Gorge and into the mountains for what we thought would be one final berry picking.  Instead, we spent most of the late afternoon driving 10+ miles way high, high up into the wilderness, where not another soul was seen, and where the sights were simply majestic.  It's quite the experience to find you and your family in the midst of such beauty, undisturbed. It's as if those mountains and trees were ours to swallow up once we arrived...

Seems God waits on us to arrive in such places--the places where words are scarce, and flip-flops will do, even if you do find yourself on the Pacific Crest Trail for the first time in your life.  And the berries that you thought you went for wont be there, and the six large bowls you have in the back of the car are laughable.  But instead of bowls overflowing with huckleberries, blueberries and raspberries, His glory fills the air and falls over the mountainscape, as every tree glows in its early fall turning, and silence crashes across the land.  This is what we came for.  These are the moments that fill us up, bring healing and re-prioritize our lives.

Birthday Hues: What I wore when I turned 30!

 

 dress: Forever 21

yellow suede platforms: Lauren Conrad

lipstick: Russian Red by MAC

I turned 30!--Hence the red lipstick and yellow platform heels!

My sis-in-law called the red daring, and I agree. 
I call the yellow heels d.a.r.i.n.g.

Thirty calls for daring, no?!

My birthday was the best sort of day spent with family, a paper color-crayoned crown on my nightstand, shopping, cupcakes, chasing the sunset, a fancy dinner with Husband on a patio overlooking the river, and the many sweet words of family and friends, that meant so much.  Most of all, it is the excitement that thirty brings a new decade of more adventure and happiness!

A Decadent Sellwood Sunday and Secret Rooms

Yesterday, I headed into the neighborhood of Sellwood, in southeast Portland, Oregon, to spend a much-needed afternoon away with a lovely friend.  Danielle never stops short of showing me an amazing time each time I visit her neck of the woods.

You want to know about this secret room, don't you?  

Well, it all began down on the corner of SE 13th.

Danielle and I were minding our own business when we walked into the fabulous storefront,

Justin and Burks. 

Translation: massive vintage chandeliers, taxidermy at its finest, exquisite antiques, crystal, unusual sea life, and an aroma that will stop you at the table where it's burning before you continue on drooling. 

It was in that moment that I realized,

deep within me, the appreciation for the luxurious life lives.

...a life beyond chicken poop, paw prints and peanut butter faces.

I stood and stared. 

On our way out, the fabulous owner, who was wearing leopard print and drinking from a bottle of sparkling water, invited us upstairs.  "Go two doors down and up the stairs," she said.  "Everything is for sale but the books.  My son hoards them." 

Another book hoarder?  The stars had aligned.

And even though they weren't for sale, I had to see them.

Now I might just start hoarding collecting coffee table books. 

The walls of books and book shelves were stunning.

 Danielle, has been accumulating photos of her in yoga poses in the most creative of spaces.  Posing in this space couldn't be passed up!  Such a beautiful combination.

Over the next thirty minutes, we fell and fell harder in love with what I call, 

the secret rooms.

 

Justin & Burks is located at 8301 SE 13Th Avenue Portland, OR 97202,

and is ran by a mother and son.

 Make sure you ask to see the upstairs!

Thanks, Danielle!  It was the most decadent afternoon!

Back to School :: Don't Blink!

This last week, I sent both my babies off to school, again.  I felt pretty prepared, but during the final days of summer, I thought of the things that we didn't get to, and wondered if I entertained them enough over the summer, if we'd done enough together?  You know, those sort of insecurities that come with being a mother?  But I was able to brush the doubt off rather quickly, and be happy for the fun that we did have--camping, a family reunion in Montana, we added quite a few new pets to our homestead, and had fun doing the little things like berry picking and making homemade ice cream.  

There was lots of bike riding, tending to our garden and harvesting and playing outdoors with friends.  Summer was good, relaxed and enjoyed, for sure.

My Brooklynn loves school.  With that, it sure makes sending her off onto the school bus that much easier.  I didn't have to do what I did last year, because I was confident in her confidence.  When she came home after her first full day of school, we asked what she thought, and she said, "I think I was gone for maybe, two hours?"  

It was actually about 7.5 hours and I felt it.  It was a long time, and by the end of the week, I was missing her, a lot.

A whole lot changes in just one year!

Then there's my sweet rascal, Asher.

Woah.  He was a baby last year!  Now, he means serious boy-business.  

And to second what I'm saying, he's been taking naps lately.  He didn't even do that at two!  He's growing into such a funny, sweet, imaginative, happy little boy, who needs more rest these days to keep up with the adventure within him. Now I just need to accumulate the same pictures of him on his first days!

He also loves a good fohawk and wearing happy birthday stickers on his first day of school.

He makes me smile.

They make me smile.

Hope all you mamas are having a happy beginning to your school year!